KING S SPEECH. CCCV 



Upon the opening of parliament the King addressed the 

 Commons. He stated his opinion of their relative duties : 

 that he was to distribute justice and mercy; and they, 

 without meddling with his prerogative, were by petition to 

 acquaint him with their distresses, and were to supply 

 his pecuniary wants, (a) 



At first there appeared nothing but duty and submission 

 on the part of the Commons. Determined, if possible, to 



(#) He said, &quot; For a supply to my necessities. I have 

 reigned eighteen years, in which time you have had peace, 

 and I have received far less supply than hath been given 

 to any king since the Conquest. The last queen of 

 famous memory had one year with another above a hundred 

 thousand pounds per annum in subsidies; and in all my 

 time I had but four subsidies, and six fifteens. It is ten 

 years since I had a subsidy, in all which time I have 

 been sparing to trouble you. I have turned myself as 

 nearly to save expenses as I may. I have abated much 

 in my household expenses, in my navies, in the charge 

 of my munition. I made not choice of an old beaten 

 soldier for my admiral, but rather chose a young man, 

 whose honesty and integrity I knew, whose care hath 

 been to appoint under him sufficient men to lessen my 

 charges, which he hath done.&quot; And he concludes : &quot; I 

 confess I have been liberal in my grants, but if I be in 

 formed I will amend all hurtful grievances ; but who shall 

 hasten after grievances, and desire to make himself popular, 

 he hath the spirit of Satan. If I may know my errors, I 

 will reform them. I was in my first parliament a novice ; 

 and in my last there was a kind of beasts, called Under 

 takers, a dozen of whom undertook to govern the last 

 parliament, and they led me. I shall thank you for your 

 good office, and desire that the world may say well of our 

 agreement.&quot;* 



* Rushworth, vol. i. p. 22. 

 VOL. XV. x 



